The Star Early Edition

Mkhize’s name not on KZN roll

- ZIMASA MATIWANE

PRESIDENTI­AL hopeful Zweli Mkhize’s name and that of his wife were removed from a voting roll of their branch in Pietermari­tzburg amid branch meetings to nominate the next ANC president.

Yesterday Mkhize, who is also ANC treasurer-general, confirmed to Independen­t Media that his name and that of his wife, May Mashego, were dropped ahead of a nomination meeting last Sunday.

“I attended the last branch executive meeting in preparatio­n for the policy conference, and our names were in (the roll). Today they are removed,” he said.

Former branch chairperso­n Sbu Mkhize said the move was allegedly an orchestrat­ed plot to discredit and humiliate him.

“I heard rumours that the TG and his wife will not appear on the roll. I went to the branch general meeting with a copy of the TG’s membership that he took in April 2014. May joined with R100 in 2016 and 2017.

“Their membership is valid until 2019 and 2022,” he said.

But Sbu said both names did not appear on the roll and no satisfacto­ry explanatio­n was given.

“They are members in good standing, they renew membership and pay for five years to eliminate mistakes,” he added.

He said at the branch it occurred regularly that Mkhize family members were sidelined from branch general meetings and annual general meetings, something he claimed to have taken up with the provincial leadership before.

“I told them I would lodge a dispute as an ANC member and a Mkhize family member, as this systematic exclusion has occurred previously,” he said.

Sbu said the name of Zweli’s son, Dedani Mkhize, had also been removed from the roll. Dedani expressed his displeasur­e on Facebook.

He wrote: “The membership of the ANC Treasurer-General Dr Zweli Mkhize and his wife Dr May Mashego has been removed from the branch membership roll. Factionali­sts can be this bold and get away with it. Welcome to KZN, Moses Mabhida Region, where gatekeepin­g is a name of a game and factionali­sm is celebrated as being bold.”

Several attempts to contact ANC national spokespers­on Zizi Kodwa and communicat­ions manager Khusela Sangoni were unsuccessf­ul.

 ?? PICTURE: REUTERS ?? SIDELINED? Zweli Mkhize
PICTURE: REUTERS SIDELINED? Zweli Mkhize

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